Cold Metal Bars

Opens with a spotlight on a cage in the middle of the stage. There is a person of indiscriminate age and gender in the cage. A slightly pathetic-looking person.

After a few moments, lights go up on whole stage. People walk by chatting happily, but you don’t necessarily hear everything they say; italicized words are the ones that must be heard; there is some overlap. Person looks on longingly.

Female 1: So what did you do this weekend?

Female 2: Oh, I did all kinds of things. I barely got a chance to sleep. On Friday I went to a basketball game. Yeah, we took the train down there. It was so crowded.

Female 1: Man, I wish I could’ve been there.

Male 1: I’m exhausted. I just flew in from San Diego.

Female 3: How was the flight?

Male 1: It was long, and we hit some bad weather through Colorado. Some bad turbulence.

Male 2: Dude, I went skiing this weekend, and there was this huge jump, and I landed it!

Male 3: No way!

Male 2: Yeah, I did. I fell about twenty times before that, but it was so worth it…

Female 4: Are you going to be able to make it to the choir concert on Thursday?

Male 4: I hope so. Are you going to be in it?

Female 4: Yeah, we’re singing some old showtunes, and I’m singing a duet with Harold.

Male 4: Really? I didn’t know you were that good…

Male 5: That Indian food was spicy!

Female 5: I know!

Male 5: It was tasty, though, wasn’t it?

Female 5: Oh, yeah…

Their voices slowly die out and lights fade. Our focus turns again toward Person with the spotlight and the cage. Throughout the play, the people continue to walk around and behind the cage, looking content, not noticing Person’s talking. We don’t hear them talking, but we see their lips moving.

Person: (Sighs heavily.) Look at all those happy people. Enjoying life. Experiencing so many different things. There are so many different things to enjoy! I could do all those things. I could be like them. I could, but…(Looks around the cage.) It would be nice to join them.

(Grips the bars violently.)

Oh, but I don’t envy them. I don’t envy them at all. I really don’t. I’m safer where I am. I can’t do all those things. I’ve tried. I remember. It’s not worth it. I’m safer in here.

(Lets go of the bars and starts pacing. We now see that the floor of the cage has some give to it, like a trampoline. Talks as if trying to convince themselves, nods, etc.)

Yeah, if I went to that basketball game with her, I could’ve suffocated, or gotten lost in the crowd, or gotten trampled, or lost my hearing. (Jumps slightly, testing the floor. Continues to pace.) Yeah, and if I had gone to that Indian restaurant with them, that spicy food could’ve burned off all my taste buds, or made me all warm or sweaty, or made me throw up. (Again jumps slightly. Continues to pace.) Yeah, and if I would be in that concert on Thursday, I might trip on my way on stage, or pass out, or forget the songs. (Jumps again.) Yeah.

(Changes moods, looks back and forth between ceiling and Male 2.)

No! I don’t want to go skiing anyway! Skiing is no fun. It’s stupid. I don’t even like to ski. And it’s expensive. It’s too cold. I’d get windburn! Windburn is uncomfortable. Skiing definitely is not worth it. No! (Now glances from above to Male 1.) And why would I want to fly to San Diego? There’s nothing interesting there. I don’t need that sunshine and warmth. All I need to be content is right here. That’s right. I’m content with what I have. I don’t need fancy trips. And anyway, driving is more fun. It’s more of an adventure. You get to see more things. No! It’s definitely not worth it.

(Person thrusts hand in pocket and brings out a key. You start to hear the people repeating their previous lines in no particular order, quietly at first, but growing. At end “those happy people…”, all people’s lines overlap, none are coherent. Person is at full volume throughout.)

And yet…I could. I could be like that. Like them. I could go skiing. I could go to a basketball game. Yeah! I want to be in that choir concert! I want to eat Indian food! I can fly to San Diego! Yeah!!! Why not? They do it. I can at least try. I can be like them. So many different things to enjoy! Those happy people…

(Person reaches through the bars and tries to stick the key in the lock. Now the people are very loud. Suddenly, there is a loud cracking sound as the spotlight goes out and the people fall silent. The spotlight goes up, and Person is huddled in the back corner of its cage, rocking back and forth, cradling its hand. Lights slowly go up on the rest of the stage.)

No. I’m safer in here. I don’t want to, anyway. It’s not worth it. Everything I need is here. I don’t envy them at all. (Continued mumblings through following lines.)

Female 4: How was the game last weekend?

Female 2: It was such a close game. We only lost by 3 points.

Male 3: Have you been on vacation, man? You look tan.

Male 1: Yeah, I just got back from San Diego. You can tell?

Male 5: It’s a great restaurant. Great Indian food.

Female 3: Really? Where is it? I should try it.

Talking dies out. All lights go off.